The Guardian of Liberty - Nemzetőr, 1984 (7. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)

1984-01-01 / 1. szám

1984 DISPUTE WITH MARX "Scram!“ Says Lenin Now we are well into the famous year of 1984, celebrated as the year chosen by George Orwell for the title of his book de­scribing life as it might be in a country under complete State control, we can still recall that 1983 was also an anniversary year. It was the centenary of Karl Marx. Marx did as much as anyone to bring into existence the first such State as Orwell de­scribes, by providing it with a basis for its political ideology. The Sovet Unon today is as near as any nation has come in spirit to the country of 1984. The debt the communist world owes to Marx was repeatedly stressed throughout 1983. His name was coupled as always, with one significant exception, with that of Lenin. But how much does Lenin and the Soviet Union really owe to Marx — and how much do they owe to him? This was the subject under animated discus­sion recently overheard by our Spectral Cor­respondent in the Hall of Fame: — Marx Do you mind! This is my statue. Lenin Sorry Karl, but I need it. You lcnow „Marxist-Leninist" is practically one word these days, anyway. Marx So was „Marxist-Leninist-Stalinist" not so long ago. Lenin Yes well; I did try to warn them. I don’t know that you you can talk. You WHEN PARTY ACTIVISTS BECOME PROFESSORS... (Continued from page 2) of the Afghan Ministry of Education is run by a Soviet Uzbek named Osmanov, an expert in Pushtu literature. The so-called Democratic Youth Organisa­tion of Afghanistan, modelled on the Komso­mol, and the Democratic Women of Afghan­istan conduct literary classes with a political purpose. As the offical news agency com­mented on December 12, 1983, the illiterate not only learn to read and write but also acquire „the necessary socio-political informa­tion". To ensure that literate Afghans read only what the régime considers good for them, a society of Young Afghan Writers was established last November. Karmai told its opening conference that the society was intended to „build a new culture" and that friendship with the Soviet Union should be spread and deepened in young people's souls. To guide the society in its work a Secretary of the USSR Writers' Union, Yuri Verchenko, visited Kabul in December. Soviet control over Kabul Radio has also been tightened. The former producer of the radio's religious programmes, Abdul Rahim Fawwad, who fled to Pakistan last December, said that four Soviet advisers and translators made all important decisions on the program­mes. The daily reading of the Koran had been reduced from 27 minutes to 12. Russian control is so blatant that ordinary Afghans refuse to appear in radio or tele­vision interviews. Members of the Party and of KHAD, the Soviet-supervised Afghan secret police, pretend in these interviews to be workers, peasants and volunteer militiamen. Marx Lenin Marx 1___ 3. ... didn’t think the communist revolution would take place in Russia, did you? „Counter-revolutionary barbarians" I believe was the phrase you used. What makes you think it has taken place now? Now come on! All I did was based on Marxism. At least that’s what I Marx said. I even justified the massacres by my security police, the Cheka, as Lenin „carrying out the dictatorship of the proletariat". Didn't you hear that speech in 1918? Then there was the time I wrote „Marxist doctrine is omnipotent because it is true." I must say you don’t seem very grateful. Maybe I didn’t make clear what I meant by the „dictatorship of the proletariat". Come to think of it I Marx have never been all that sure myself. But I was sure of one thing. The working class was not going to need any sort of grand organisation; none of this elitist ruling vanguard idea. Lenin That, if I may say so, was because you Lenin were obsessed with this singularly short-sighted and romantic idea that AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR FRIENDS: IF YOU HAVE friends who you think would be interested in THE GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY (Nemzetőr) we will glodly send specimen copies free of chorge. All you r.eed do is to fill in names oddresses below and send them to us. We will do the rest. Please send specimen copies of THE GUARDIAN OF LIBERTY (Nemzetőr) to the followng: 2. 4. ... the world was divided into exploiters and exploited, as if they were on one vast seesaw. Like I said, „there is absolutely no contradiction in princi­ple between Soviet democracy and the exercise of dictatorial powers by individuals". Provided you are the individuals I suppose. Look here, I went to a lot of trouble to preserve your name by covering up the gaps in your inadequate ideas with some practical solutions of my own. If it wasn’t for what I and my successors have done to keep your name alive I wonder how much we would remember the name of Karl Marx today. Interesting you should say that. I was reading an article in the Romanian Party paper on my anniversary. Quite a long one it was. It just so happened I didn't see a single reference to you in it. Yes well, if you must know that was why I wanted your statue. Push off will you. Scram! JANUARY —FEBRUARY, 19843

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